Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Supreme Court 's decision Monday on same-sex marriage brought the issue back into the political mix less than a month before the midterm elections .

Deciding not to weigh in on the debate , the high court refused to hear cases in five states that are trying to maintain their same-sex marriage bans . That move effectively cleared the way for same-sex couples to legally wed in Oklahoma , Utah , Virginia , Wisconsin and Indiana .

Only one of those five states , Virginia , has a contested U.S. Senate race this year .

But the decision Monday also means that six other states who are covered by the same circuit appeals courts could also soon see their bans struck down . Of those states , three -- Colorado , Kansas and North Carolina -- are home to big Senate races .

All told , 30 states could soon start permitting same-sex marriage . That 's up from 19 before the Supreme Court decision .

Polls show acceptance

It 's instinctual to think that such a vast change on a hot-button issue could throw a wrench in an election year , especially with less than a month before Election Day . But recent polls and the gradual state-by-state legalization of same-sex marriage indicates that it 's no longer the wedge issue it once was .

Sure , vulnerable Southern Democrats -- like Sen. Mary Landrieu in Louisiana and Kay Hagan in North Carolina -- may be wary of letting social issues become a prominent force in the midterms , as they tend to galvanize conservative bases .

But those socially conservative , pro-traditional marriage bases are getting smaller . A CBS/New York Times survey last month indicated that 56 % of Americans believe same-sex marriage should be legal , representative of a slew of polls in recent years that show growing acceptance of the issue .

`` As a general rule , it wo n't have an effect on these midterms because I think the issue is fading , '' said Quentin Kidd , director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University in Virginia .

`` Millennials are becoming an increasingly larger portion of the electorate , and boomers are becoming an increasingly smaller part , '' he continued . `` And millennials feel very different about it than boomers do . ''

Conservatives : issue will dominate election

Some social conservative leaders , including Ralph Reed of the Faith and Freedom Coalition , vowed that same-sex marriage would dominate the midterms .

`` For candidates running in 2014 and those who run for president in 2016 , there will be no avoiding this issue , '' Reed said in a statement , taking issue with what many critics described as judicial activism by the courts .

While Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said conservatives are right to be outraged by the courts ' action on the issue , he doubts same-sex marriage will become a big force in the elections next month .

`` People ... are right to be concerned about what 's happened here , but it does n't mean it 's the issue every single morning that we 're dealing with in regards to these midterms , '' he said on MSNBC .

How it plays in Virginia

Republican Ed Gillespie , who 's challenging Democratic Sen. Mark Warner in Virginia , said the Supreme Court 's decision has `` considerable impact '' but did not express overt concern about the issue .

`` I 've always felt that this is a matter for the states to determine , '' he told CNN affiliate WSLS . `` I do n't believe that the federal government should set policy relative to marriage . I think the states should . And , obviously , given the court 's ruling , it is the law of the land today . ''

With half of Virginia voters supporting same-sex marriage , according to a Quinnipiac poll earlier this year , a Republican candidate running for a statewide seat would almost need to take a measured approach on the issue .

Warner , his opponent , endorsed same-sex marriage last year along with several other Senate Democrats . On Monday , his Twitter account was fully supportive of the Supreme Court 's move , calling it a `` truly historic day . ''

If a Republican like Gillespie were to utilize the decision as a campaign issue , the candidate would need to micro-target a segment of voters that is highly passionate about it , Kidd said .

`` If he can link his passion against same-sex marriage with the right voters , then I think that can help him gain support , '' Kidd added , but he doubts it can actually push Gillespie over the edge .

Colorado candidates ' views

In Colorado , Republican Cory Gardner -- who 's angling to oust Democratic Sen. Mark Udall -- has yet to comment on the Supreme Court decision . The candidates were not asked about it in their debate Monday .

And with Colorado voters supporting same-sex marriage , 61 % -33 % , according to a Quinnipiac poll in April , it 's no surprise that Gardner may keep quiet on the issue .

Public opinion , however , makes it easier for Udall , who quickly took to Twitter Monday to blast out his support . `` Supreme Court is right to let 10th Circuit Court decision â $ '' & others across nation â $ '' for #MarriageEquality stand . #MarriageMomentum , '' his account read .

No comment in North Carolina

Over in North Carolina , where Republican Thom Tillis is working to unseat Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in the most expensive race this year , neither candidate has commented on the decision .

Hagan was part of the surge of Senate Democrats who endorsed same-sex marriage last year , but North Carolina passed its same-sex marriage ban as recently as 2012 -- an effort that Tillis , speaker of the North Carolina House , helped push .

According to the Charlotte Observer , Hagan reiterated her position Monday .

`` I 've made my personal opinion on this clear , '' she said . `` I opposed Amendment One , because I do n't think we should tell people who they can love or who they can marry . ''

Same in Kansas

The issue could also come up in Kansas , another one of the six extra states affected .

Republican Sen. Pat Roberts , who supports a constitutional amendment to define marriage between a man and a woman , is fighting for his political survival against an independent candidate , Greg Orman .

And in a state with large patches of conservative voters , neither of those candidates are commenting either .

CNN 's Bill Mears and Ashley Fantz contributed to this report .

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NEW : RNC chairman says same-sex marriage wo n't be a top 2014 issue

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Same-sex marriage was legalized in five states Monday

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That 's because of a Supreme Court decision to avoid the debate